According to a report by Beritalima on January 16th, the Indonesian government has announced through the Ministry of Finance's regulation 143/PMK/2023 that starting from January 1st, 2024, a 10% tax will be imposed on products such as e-cigarettes. This measure aims to control tobacco consumption among the public and has sparked widespread attention from various sectors of society.
According to a report by Beritalima, the tax policy has generated different opinions. Dr. Kurnia Dwi Artanti, lecturer at the School of Public Health at Alrea University, shared her views on the impact of the tax. She highlighted that the effects of e-cigarette taxation may not be immediately apparent. Dr. Artanti also noted that while e-cigarette taxation is similar to traditional tobacco taxation, it has not reduced the consumption rate of traditional tobacco.
Dr. Artanti explained that there is no significant difference in nicotine content between e-cigarettes and traditional tobacco, making them equally addictive. She pointed out that while the increase in the price of e-cigarettes might reduce daily consumption, it does not necessarily reduce smokers' dependence on tobacco.
Dr. Artanti proposes strengthening the implementation of smoke-free area policies in order to reduce tobacco use. This includes education areas, healthcare facilities, public transportation, children's playgrounds, religious sites, workplaces, and other public facilities. She believes that by establishing clear smoke-free area regulations, it will be possible to restrict tobacco consumption by smokers in specific locations.
Dr. Artanti asserts that e-cigarettes should be regarded as traditional tobacco products and included in smoke-free zone regulations. She argues that the use of e-cigarettes is comparable to traditional tobacco products and therefore the use of e-cigarettes or similar products should still be prohibited in smoke-free areas.
Dr. Artanti has urged the public to hold discerning views towards government tax policies. She stressed that e-cigarettes are not inherently safer than traditional tobacco products, as they also pose significant health risks.
Finally, Dr. Artanti hopes that through the revenue from tobacco taxes, the government can reduce the public's reliance on tobacco. She suggests using tobacco taxes to implement smoke-free areas, strengthen law enforcement, and enhance anti-smoking propaganda and education to the public. These efforts need to be sustained in the long term, as different demographics have different situations.
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